Web Developer

Details

Duration: Full Time

Location: Mountain View, CA

Department: Information Systems

Summary

Do you have the passion to create a great web experience that will excite and educate millions of people? Are you energized by the idea of creating an engaging web site that will enhance people’s understanding of computer history and its pivotal role in our society? Do you want to be a key member of a team preserving the history of the Information Age for generations to come?

The Computer History Museum (www.computerhistory.org) in Mountain View, California, seeks a technically adept, broadly experienced and highly motivated individual for the full-time, salaried position of Web Developer.

The Museum is building an expanding web presence and is now creating a major web exhibit: The Timeline of Computing scheduled to open in 2009. This exhibit is part of a wider Virtual Museum that will further the Museum’s mission of preserving and presenting for posterity the artifacts and stories of the Information Age. This web developer position will have a key role in creating and implementing the Museum’s web-based offerings and will report directly to the Museum’s Vice President for Information Systems.

About the Computer History Museum
The Computer History Museum is a unique and exciting institution that is rapidly evolving, yet its roots go back almost 30 years. It is home to the world's largest collection of computer-related hardware artifacts, software, documents, photographs and videos. Backed by leaders and innovators of the computer industry, the Museum has a dedicated staff of about 38 and hundreds of volunteers. The Museum purchased its 120,000 square foot building in 2002, and opened its first public phase in 2003. It presents a world-class lecture series, maintains a website with unique and widely-used content, restores old computers, holds workshops and reunions, gives awards, does oral histories, and continues to collect worldwide.

The Museum continues to aggressively expand its presence online. We’re currently building major exhibits both physical and on the web, engaging people interactively, collaborating with other institutions, proactively collecting artifacts and media of all kinds, and starting education and research programs. A major 14,000 square foot permanent gallery, "The Timeline of Computing History", will open in the fall of 2009, to be followed in later years by other exhibits. All physical exhibits have web counterparts that additionally provide access to the deep collection. The Museum strives to inform and inspire multiple audiences through a variety of public exhibits and programs that communicate the history and impact of the computer revolution.

Responsibilities

Working with project teams, users and museum groups, create and document web development requirements
Utilizing development standards and creative application of new methods and technologies, design applications that fulfill project requirements, information architecture needs and user experience standards
Develop optimized application code to create an intuitive, enriching and enjoyable web experience for our visitors
Thoroughly test and debug application code, plan code releases and coordinate implementations for a smooth introduction of new web services and applications
On an ongoing basis, debug and correct web-based application and data problems
As needed, perform web site maintenance, minor content and code edits and execute content updates
Explore new and alternative web development tools, methods, programming frameworks, methodologies

Qualifications

At least 2 years direct experience (with 3 or more years preferred) in web design/development in real world commercial or non-profit work environments. You must have direct and demonstrated past experience in the following technical and business skills:

Development:

Develop optimized/cross-platform front-end code in CSS/XHTML, XML, JavaScript/ECMAScript and AJAX
Create efficient/flexible application code in PHP/MySQL to inter-operate with web services SOAP, REST, XML-RPC and JSON
Relational database concepts including principles, schema design, normalization, query design, optimization
Web architecture and development environments including Subversion
Web standards-based development utilizing industry best practices and W3C standards
Accessibility / Section 508 / WCAG / WAI
Content Management Systems
Table-less design and separation of content from presentation
Knowledge of mash-up methodologies, Web 2.0 capabilities and trends including micro formats
Unix shell scripting

Web Server Technologies:

Red Hat Linux
Apache
Microsoft IIS
Windows 2003

Graphic Design:

Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator
Macromedia Dreamweaver and Flash

Secondary Qualifications:

Oracle database
Python
Perl

Ability to communicate well with both technical and non-technical team members on projects and requests
Past experience in developing basic project plans and time management skills
Self-directing and able to execute proactively to complete an agreed upon set of goals
Takes ownership and responsibility and proactively respond to issues
College degree preferred in applicable fields including web design, software development, computer science, graphic design or equivalent work experience
Ability to fluently write and speak in English

How to Apply

With your resume and cover letter, please provide if possible, web links and/or examples of your past web development efforts including a brief description of your exact role in its creation.
Please email your resume, work examples and a cover letter to webjobs@computerhistory.org

The Museum offers a competitive salary and benefits package including health, dental, vision and life insurance and is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For more information on the Computer History Museum: www.computerhistory.org

Please send resume and cover letter to: webjobs@computerhistory.org